Gary's Blog

Just a place to find out what's on my mind, or what's occupying my time whilst I avoid actual "work."

 

VGN for November 25th, 2005

Video Game news:

50 Cent says it's okay to play his game, kids.

Tue Nov 22, 5:06 PM ET

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Rapper 50 Cent, once shot nine times on the street in a gang incident, said on Tuesday parents should buy their children his new video game, rated 'mature' for blood, gore and sexual themes, and use it as a teaching tool.

 
The industry rating for "50 Cent: Bulletproof" means it has been deemed "not suitable" for those under the age of 17.

"Just because it is rated mature doesn't mean you shouldn't buy it for your kids," the rapper, whose given name is Curtis Jackson, told Reuters in an interview on Tuesday. "Play the game and explain to them what they are playing."

In the game, released just weeks after the popular rapper's movie, "Get Rich or Die Tryin'," hit the screens, 50 Cent is depicted making his way through New York's underworld with armed guards and guns blazing.

Last summer the American Psychological Association, responding to studies showing that violent video games can increase aggressive behavior in children, adopted a resolution recommending that all violence be reduced in video games and interactive media marketed to children and youth.

The rapper, who has a 9-year-old son, defended violent video games as entertainment. "I think everyone knows that a game is a game. There's the part where you actually press start on the controller -- after that you are playing a game."

Nintendo takes a hit.

Thu Nov 24,12:32 PM ET
 

TOKYO (AFP) - Nintendo has announced that a slump in both game console and software sales sent its net profit down 21 percent in the first half to September.

The Japanese company, the world's largest maker of portable game consoles, said its group net profit came to 36.6 billion yen (308 million dollars) in the six-month period, down from 46.5 million dollars a year earlier.

Sales fell 6.2 percent to 176.36 billion yen with pretax profit down 28.3 percent at 56.8 billion yen.

Nintendo blamed the decline on a slump in sales of its flagship Gameboy series portable game consoles and stand-alone game console, the Gamecube, amid tough competition with its domestic rival Sony's PlayStation Portable.

For the year to March 2006, Nintendo stood by its previous forecasts of net profit of 75 billion yen, pretax profit of 125 billion yen and revenue of 500 billion yen.

"In the video game industry, the handheld game market performed well," Nintendo said on Thursday.

Some Xbox 360s have problems, some don't.

Wed Nov 23, 9:39 PM ET
 

REDMOND, Wash. - Microsoft Corp. said Wednesday it had received isolated reports of technical problems with its popular new     Xbox 360 videogame system.

Some owners complained that their systems were crashing during game play, sometimes with error messages popping up. On http://www.xbox-scene.com, a site dedicated to Xbox gaming, a member called jsgongwon reported that he could not finish the first lap of "Project Gotham Racing 3."

"It's a few reports of consoles here and there not working properly," said Molly O'Donnell, a spokeswoman for Microsoft's Xbox division. "It's what you would expect with a consumer electronics instrument of this complexity .... par for the course."

Gaming fanatics lined up for hours Monday to be among the first to purchase the next-generation system, which was in short supply despite its starting price tag of $299.99. Microsoft hopes to sell 2.5 million to 3 million of the new systems in the first 90 days.

O'Donnell urged anyone with Xbox problems to call 1-800-4myXbox or go to http://www.xbox.com. If the problems can't be resolved immediately, Microsoft said it will pay to ship the console overnight to a repair center, overnight it back once it's fixed, or ship a replacement.

So, don't be scared.

Xbox 360 on Ebay.

By Lisa Baertlein
Wed Nov 23, 6:01 PM ET
 

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp.'s scarce new Xbox 360 has sold out at most stores with many new owners flipping the video game consoles by the thousands on Web auction site eBay Inc. for almost twice the retail price.

Big retailers, including Best Buy Co. Inc. and Target Corp., reported running out of Microsoft's next-generation game system at most, if not all, of their stores following its North American debut on Tuesday.

By Wednesday afternoon, 10,700 Xbox 360s had traded on eBay at an average price of $781, a spokesman for eBay said. The basic unit retails for $300. A premium package that includes accessories and a hard-drive that allows gamers to play existing Xbox titles costs $400.

An eBay search for the term "Xbox 360" returned nearly 27,000 listings. When sorted for items priced above $300, the number of listings shrank to just over 16,000.

Microsoft spokeswoman Molly O'Donnell said the company is resupplying retailers with Xbox 360s as quickly as possible.

"They'll be supplied on a week-to-week basis," she said.

Despite the shortages and strong demand from gamers willing to pay top dollar for the latest technology, some sellers were apparently asking too much.

One sought-after Xbox 360 premium console was listed with a starting bid of $1,200 and a "Buy It Now" price of $2,500.

That auction expired on Wednesday without attracting an offer.

What I've been playing:

Gun!  Awesome game although I'm stuck!

Far Cry: Instincts

Land of the Dead

posted by: Gary1059 at 08:15 | link | comments |

VGN for November 18th, 2005

Video Game News:
Don't Buy the 360!!!

Just read the article.  Fair and balanced crap is still crap.  If you think they are being smart about reporting video game news, check out this subsequent article:

10 HOT games that won't play on the 360.

They list Nintendo DS and Sony PSP games, friggin dullards.    Go back to lying about the unpopular decisions our government makes...oh wait, you just do that for one side.

Nintendo quickly follows suit...

By ALLISON LINN, AP Business Writer
Wed Nov 16, 7:04 PM ET
SEATTLE - Nintendo Co. has become the latest console maker to promise parents the means to help restrict their children's access to violent video games.
 
The new version of Nintendo's videogame console, called Revolution and due out in 2006, will allow users to require passwords for video games that carry certain ratings, such as "T" for "teen" or "M" for "mature."

Many people associate Nintendo's game consoles with younger users, and few games designed for its systems have a lot of violence or sexuality.

Although the company didn't receive many customer requests for parental controls, "it is something that I just think is right to do," said Perrin Kaplan, vice president for marketing at Nintendo's U.S. headquarters in Redmond, Wash.

The move echoes Redmond-based Microsoft Corp.'s efforts to bolster parental controls with its    Xbox 360, due out next Tuesday.

Socom 3 tops charts

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Sony Computer Entertainment America's third-person shooter "SOCOM 3:     U.S. Navy SEALs" was the best-selling video game in the United States in October, market research firm NPD Group said on Tuesday.

Electronic Arts Inc. (Nasdaq:ERTS - news) had the second and third most popular games with sports titles "NBA Live 06" and "Madden NFL 06."

What I've been playing:

Stubbs the Zombie!!  Just beat it, great game!

Land of the Dead:  Road to Fiddler's Green.

MmmMmmmM...Zombies.

Anime News:

ANIME EXPLOSION: Phantom Master
Join us for our free, monthly showing of anime on the big screen!

When: Midnight, Friday, November 18th

Where: Lowes Cineplex at Universal Studios Orlando

We will begin wristbanding at 10:30 pm at the table just inside the lobby.

Phantom Master
 After wandering through the desert for days, a bitter warrior named Munsu is lost and unable to continue. His life is unexpectedly saved by Mon-ryon, a young man who dreams of becoming a secret agent for Jushin, a once-great country that was recently destroyed. Mon-ryon's goal is to save his girlfriend, Chunhyan, a born fighter who is held captive by the evil Lord Byonand. Then, from out of nowhere, blood begins trickling from his chest. He has been fatally wounded by the Sarinjas, a cannibalistic breed of desert goblin. The quick-thinking Munsu convinces these beasts to spare his life, in exchange for the peaceful handover of Mon-ryon's appetizing corpse. Although skeptical of Mon-ryon's motives, Munsu sets out to continue the mission that the young idealist described. Accompanied by an army of ghost troops, unleashed using the powers of Angyo Onshi, Munsu liberates Chunhyan. After visiting her boyfriend's final resting place, she declares herself Munsu's bodyguard and, together, they set out on a mission to punish those who stripped Jushin of its original glory.

Phantom Master: Dark Hero From Ruined Empire is a groundbreaking and important film in the history of Asian cinema, as it marks the first theatrical animation collaboration between Japan and Korea. Even the source material comes from mixed national descent. While the story originated as a graphic novel inspired by a Korean folktale, it morphed into a popular, serialized comic in Japan's Sunday Gene-X. Financing for the film came from both Korean and Japanese sources, shortly after Korea decided to open its borders to Japanese culture. The film brings together Japan's OLM, the animation studio behind Pokemon, and Korea's up-and-coming Character Plan. Combining quiet moments of poetry with striking, gruesome moments of death and destruction, this film places a thoroughly unsentimental emphasis on the apocalyptic. This depiction of hopeless desperation is also reflected in the film's wandering anti-hero protagonist and his resemblance to Clint Eastwood's jaded man-with-no-name incarnation in the films of Sergio Leone. In fact, the film has an alarming variety of visible influences, from Taxi Driver and the films of Sam Peckinpah to the trilogy and numerous works of anime. There's even a sequence involving zombies. Above all, though, Phantom Master amazes with its epic, action-packed vision and elaborately conceived, imagined world. Fans of Korean and Japanese cinema pay close attention, this may be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

Running Time: 87 minutes

Description from FanTasia

posted by: Gary1059 at 08:03 | link | comments |

VGN for November 11th, 2005

Video Game news:

Game Over, Katamari?

Posted: 01:10 on 11 Nov 2005
By: Chris Leyton

Keita Takahashi hints at future away from videogames and takes a swipe at sales & marketing...

Speaking to the BBC Online Katamari Damacy creator has cast doubt on his future in the videogame industry, claiming he won’t be making games in 10 years time. What would the man behind one of the biggest surprises in the last few years contemplate leaving this for, to make “bumpy” playgrounds for children, who he believes, should be spending more time outside and less time stuck in virtual worlds.

Keita Takahashi moves on to criticise the “safe-bet” current nature of videogame publishers, claiming that We Love Katamari wasn’t his idea originally, however NAMCO’s assurance that it would go ahead regardless of his involvement spurred him into making sure players wouldn’t be disappointed – although he’s not entirely happy with the final version.

Machinima, what's your pick?

By JAKE COYLE, AP Entertainment Writer
Thu Nov 10, 6:53 PM ET
 

NEW YORK - In "Red vs. Blue," one of the short films at this weekend's third annual Machinima Film Festival, two gun-totting, faceless patrolmen from the video game "Halo" act more like Samuel Beckett characters than intergalactic warriors.

"The only reason that we set up a red base here is because they have a blue base over there," one says to the other. "And the only reason they have a blue base over there is because we have a red base here."

Surely, an existential dilemma if ever there was one.

Perhaps the most popular incarnation of machinima, "Red vs. Blue" is now up to 66 episodes with more than a million total viewers. A combination of "machine" and "cinema," machinima is a burgeoning new genre of do-it-yourself animation, rendered by using the environments and characters of video games.

Michigan gets an injunction...
By BREE FOWLER, Associated Press Writer
Wed Nov 9,11:19 PM ET
 

DETROIT - A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction Wednesday stopping a Michigan law that bars retailers from selling or renting violent video games to minors from going into effect until a lawsuit filed by the gaming industry is resolved.

The Entertainment Software Association, a trade group representing U.S. computer and video game publishers, filed the suit in September, charging that the law is unconstitutionally vague and limits First Amendment rights. Gov. Jennifer Granholm signed the law in September, and it was scheduled to take effect Dec. 1.

THQ gets Conan.
Posted: 14:49 on 10 Nov 2005
By: Jon Wilcox

The barbarian is set to return across all current and next-gen formats...

THQ has today announced the acquisition of the Conan license in a deal with Paradox Entertainment and Conan Properties International. The multi-year deal, which stretches across all current and next-gen platforms, coincides with a media re-launch of the character.

"Combining the epic adventures and stunning environments found throughout the Conan Universe with next-gen video game technology will add a whole new chapter to Conan's rich history," said Germaine Gioia, Vice President of Licensing, THQ. "The agreement delivers a strong addition to our world class video game portfolio and will provide Conan's huge fan base and gamers worldwide with hours of thrilling entertainment."

"THQ's proven success with high-profile licensed properties will ensure Conan games deliver an interactive experience worthy of a truly legendary character," said Fredrik Malmberg, Head of Licensing & Creative Affairs at Paradox Entertainment. "Developing next-gen console games is a huge commitment and we're happy to be working with one of the strongest companies in the video game industry."

What I've been playing:

Heroes of the Pacific

Stubbs the Zombie--Almost beat it!!

The Incredible Hulk!

Anime News:

Advent Children delayed?
GATV reports that Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children has been pushed back to January 10, 2006 in order to facilitate a possible limited theatrical release.

Miyazaki Fest
Turner Broadcasting has sent out a press release officially announcing the Turner Classic Movies January spotlight on Hayao Miyazaki. Of particular note, the press release announces that each movie will be presented in English first, with an encore presentation in the original Japanese. The only exception will be Only Yesterday, which will be presented twice in Japanese.

 

posted by: Gary1059 at 08:02 | link | comments |

VGN for November 3rd, 2005

Video Game News:

Merrill Lynch:  Xbox 360 over PS3?

Microsoft Corp. is likely to win the next round of the game console fight against Sony Corp (NYSE:SNE - news). based on a potentially huge cost difference that could see the     Xbox 360 selling for half the price of a PlayStation 3 (PS3) by the end of next year, investment firm Merrill Lynch said in a Wednesday analysis.

Based on a breakdown of the parts being used inside the two game machines, Merrill Lynch said the “PS3 will not only be significantly more costly than Xbox 360 at launch, but will continue to operate at a cost disadvantage for several years.”

The investment banker said Sony’s PS3 is an impressive machine, but the costly components inside could raise the price of a PS3 to around US$500 when it launches in the spring of 2006. By then, the Xbox 360 could be selling for US$249, Merrill Lynch estimated.

Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. could not be reached for comment due to a public holiday in Japan.

Microsoft has announced two versions of the Xbox 360, a basic version for US$300 and a premium edition for US$400.

I-Tune type for PSP
Jay Wrolstad, newsfactor.com
Wed Nov 2, 4:06 PM ET
 
Sony (NYSE: SNE - news) has introduced software to enhance the reputation of its PlayStation Portable (PSP) gaming device as a multifunctional product. The new application lets users easily transfer a variety of content from a computer to the PSP.

With PSP Media Manager, users can move videos, music, and photos to the PSP by way of a USB connection. The software also gives users the ability to access a directory of RSS feeds, such as podcasts, video blogs, and PSP-formatted magazines.

The software provides navigation and thumbnail previews to identify photos and videos for transfer from the PC to PSP, and lets users select among different quality settings for the content. In addition, a one-click option lets users back up game saves, images, videos, and music files from the PSP to a desktop computer.

Take Two takes a hit, and so does Oblivion.

By Lisa Baertlein
Mon Oct 31, 9:50 PM ET
 

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. on Monday cut its forecasts for fiscal 2005 and 2006, citing the delay of a popular title for a hand held video game player and uncertainty surrounding the launch of new game consoles. Its shares fell more than 9 percent.

New York-based Take-Two also lowered its forecast for the first quarter of fiscal 2006, saying it would deliver "The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion" and launch the Japanese version of "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas" later than planned, resulting in a change to its full-year estimates.

What I've been playing:

Stubbs the Zombie!!  Brains...

Incredible Hulk:  Ultimate Destruction

Anime News:

My name is Gackt-O, and I like to get Blott-O.
posted on 2005-11-03 15:54:04
source: Gunota Headlines
Provides Music and Acts in New Final Fantasy VII game.

Game Watch reports that Japanese music star Gackt will provide theme songs for Final Fantasy VII: Dirge of Cerebus and play one of the game's characters. The game goes on sale January 26.

The songs will be the main theme, "Redemption" and an insert song, "Longing," both writen and performed by Gackt. The songs will also go on sale January 26 as a limtied edition package that will include a DVD copy of the musci video for Redemption.

It was not stated what character Gackt will play in the game, other than to say that it is an important character. Gackt not only voices the character, but also provide the character's movements through the use of motion capture technology.

KuniCon, gone gone gone?
Kunicon Cancelled ? (2005-11-02 09:25:49)
Following statements made by former Kunicon con-chair, Manny Camacho, in his live-journal, Anime-Cons.com has posted a detailed report, concluding that Kunicon is not likely to return. Source: AnimeCons

 

posted by: Gary1059 at 08:01 | link | comments |